Kinetics and thermodynamics of the attack of a phosphate ore by acid solutions at different temperatures

A calorimetric study of the kinetics and thermodynamics of the attack of a phosphate ore from Gafsa region (Tunisia) by phosphoric acid and by a mixture of phosphoric acid and sulfuric acids is undertaken at different temperatures. Two samples of the same ore having different grain size have been used. At 25 °C, the dissolution enthalpy in phosphoric acid solution equals −233.6 ± 2.2 J/g for both of the samples. Attack by the mixture of acids is strongly dependent on the solid granulometry. Interpretation of the calorimetric results by Avrami model shows the existence of three domains attributed to phosphate ore dissolution/H2PO4− neutralisation, hemihydrate (HH) precipitation and hemihydrate/dihydrate (DH) transformation. The attack by the acid mixture was performed at higher temperatures and showed in addition the transitional formation of the anhydrous sulfate (AH) at T ≥ 55 °C, which transforms into dihydrate after the HH/DH transformation.